Fabric-shrinking machine.



`I;. I1Ir. VINCENT I E. GROASIIALB.

FABRIC SHRINKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAYI, 1911.

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E. W. VINCENT & E. CROASDALE.

FABRIC SHRINKING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAYl, 1911.

Patented Nov. 5, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

` and shrunk in the web.

UNITED I srnfrns -PATENT orrron.

EDGAR W. VNCENT, 0F WATERVLIET, AND EDGAR CROASDALE, 0F TROY, NEW YORK,

ASSIGNORS. TO TOLI-IURST MACHINE WORKS, OF TROY,

or NEW YORK.

NEW YORK, A CORPORATION FABRIC-SHRINKING MACHINE.

To all whom it .may concern:

Be it known thatfwe, EDGAR W. VINCENT and EDGAR CRoAsDAL, citizens of the United shrinking fabrics and more particularly` to machines for handlingla web of fabric which has been wetted and which is to be dried Objects of-the,invention 'are to'provide a machine wherein the web of fabr1c is u niformly shrunk so that there will be no later partial shrinking or shrinking of portions only of the fabric, and especially-after the goods have been cut. A

Further objects of the 'invention are to provide forra uniform smoothing lof the 'fabric after it has been wetted and before it,is dried; to

tively great extent of` the .fabricto the dry. 'f3 being end of provide for exposing a rela-- ing action at one time vhile protecting the fabric from any pulling or straining as it is progressed during the drying action; to..pro vide for a uniform actiorrby the heated air upon the drying fabric, and for effectively carrying away the moisture saturated air;

These and other objects of invention will in part be more fully set forth hereinafter and will in part be apparent herefrom to those skilled'in the art.

The invention consistsin the novel' parts, constructions, arrangements, combinations and improvements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referred to herein and forming a part hereof, illustrate one embodiment of the invent-ion, .the same serving'in connection with the description herein to explain the principles of the invention.

Of the drawings: 'Figure 1 is a side .ele-

lvaticn of a machine, constructed in accordance with -the principles of the invention; Fig. 2 is a top plan corresponding to Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through Fig. 1,' just within the outer casing; Fig. 4 is an end elevation looking at Fig. 1 from r the right; Fig. 5 is a detail on an enlarged scale of the feeding and for. the web; Fig. 6 is an end elevation, on

Specification of Letters Patent. Application filed .LI-ay 1, 19151.

\ment vof the invention,

The inventlon relates to machines- 'for looping devices PatentedN0v.5,1912. serial No. 624,357'.

anenlarged scale, of a winding devicefor the driedl and shrunk web which may-be Aused instead of a folding device such as is show-n in Figs. l elevation looking at Fig.l A6 from the left.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, illustrating by way of example,A one embodifabri is shown running over a guide bar l, vwhich serves to support and generally position the fabric n2. The web m of fabric is tli'en 4led between a pair of helically ribbed opener rolls 2 and' 3, for the purpose of smoothing out and' uniformly laying or smoothing all parts of the fabric, in order that it may be in uniform condition in all its parts both longitudinally and transversely of the web or fabric. These rolls are provided with ridges or ribs 4v which extend in helical formfrom the middle of end. These each roll outwardly toward each rolls are shown mounted in suitablebearings 5`and 'driven in a suitable manner. The rolls are driven in unison bv vmeans of in.- termeshing gears 6, the shaft 7 of theroll provided with a belt pulley 8, the said shaft being shown journaled in a bearing 10 carried by a hanger 9. The web of fabric passes from said opener rolls overa carrier roll 11, mounted in bearings 12 supported on the pedestals 13. Theweb of fabric passes thence into the drying and shrinking room through suitable ingress means, such as a slot 14 at one end of said drying room (therigh't hand end referred to Figs. 1 and 2).

Thedrying room is closed and is arranged to receive the'air only through the provided intakes, and to` ischarge it through the provided egress means, such as the eX- haust or Ventilating pipes 32, whereby the quantity and the distribution of the air and the resulting circulation of the air past and through the web of fabric throughout all parts of the drying room may b e completely effected and controlled. This drying room is of general longitudinal and also preferably of rectangular form, and may have its various walls constructed of wood and lined with sheet metal. In F ig.v l the vside wall 20 is shown provided with doors 21 and22, and with windows V23 and 24,

thus-affording both means for access and` observation. Q

Means are provided, in the present embodiand 3; and Fig. 7 is an the web of wetted the coilof pipe 25, arranged intvvo tiers y 26 and 27 for Arranged along the drying room are suit- .l equable circulationv the dryinggrooin.i at one `side of the path of travel rions parts ofthe-drying room. Deileet air in the drying room and effect anl adeextent of surface exposed to the dryingac# admitted, andi` th erating to eHectthe equable distribution or form shrinking'of all parts thereof. Thethe fabric may nient, for heating the air Within the drying prises ajpair of'endless sprocket chains 40 room, the embodied-form thereof comprising j and 41 at either side of the drying room and running fromthe place of'ingress at which the VWeb of fabric`- mis ytaken into the drying room to the other ,end of the drying room to the place of egress Where lthe dried web passes out of the drying room. Arranged transversely vbetween andsupported bythe ysprocket chains 40 and 41,. are the supporting bars 42 over which the web of fabric-m is looped. Suitable sup'orting and actu- Said means` are arranged, ating means for 'the sproc et chains are proof `thevvebgvided, andthey' are shown running over a of. fabrie` to be dried. i Iiiithe embodied 'pairof sprocket Wheels 43' on a shaft 44, form thefairintakes are arranged along 'at .over a pair of sprocket Wheels carried the'bottom and on bothzsidel's" 4f there drying room, the long, narrow- ,a'per ti'ire's 28 eiitend-v` v ing practically the-entf re length of the ,dry- -v ing room. Said l openings fare1` also `shown adj acent to and belofvvktlie zleveliof the steam coil 25.k These or`iices-mayuibe provided' With slides'29fto` ntr'ol the amount of air along the bottom of the ,drying room. Said pipes kmay be staggered or doubled suiiciently to give the reqiisite amount of radiatingsurface, Suita le inlets and outlets the steam. coil are provided.

able air intaking means designed to' effect an of dry 'airin all parts of on a 'shaft 46, and over a pair ofsprocket Wheels 47 carried v upon a shaft 48 and over a pairof sprocket. Wheelsf49 carried on a shaft 50. The two last mentioned pairsV of sprocket Wheels 'are near the bottom of the drying.room, the Whole arrangement affording an 'endless path for the sprocket chains, thereturn portionvof the path being near the bottom Aof the drying room, thus leaving the bodyofl theldrying room free for the traveling loops ory festoons 4of the drying fabric.;

`Air;intermittent movement is given to the sprocket chains by suitablev means and for t is'purpose the drivenshaft 51 is shown having at its end the crank 52,y tojvvhieh crank is pivotedl the rod 53,.yvhieh is likewise pivoted to the oscillating pawl arm 54. Said pawl ai'm`54 is loosely mounted on the shaft '46. A paWl 55 upon the pawl arm 54, engages with aratchet Wheel 56 fast on the shaft. 46. The pavvlv may be heldto' its ,-ratchet Wheel by `:L suitable spring (not Y Means Amay be provided for adjusting .or regulatin the, tension of the sprocket chains 40 an 4l,v and for this lpurl,pose the 'shaft 50 is shown mounted in slidablebearin s 57 to which are connected threaded adjusting rods 5,8 provided respectively` with adjusting nuts 59 on the eX- terior-of the drying rooml j In accordancewith one feature ofthe invention, means are provided whereby a length, and:l preferably a full length lof, a loop, of the Wet web of fabric is-"perinitted `to drop together Witha jerk or iirt. This causes thefabric to loo forinly, and in inachettershape than if gradually fed between the supporting'bars 42. In thepembodiedform of said means and the cpperating devices, feed rolls 60 .and 61, substantially constantly driven are provided. Below these rolls, and just below the path of travel of the supporting bars 42, is located-an inclined shelf- 621 upon which the Web of fabric w piles up as fed thereto by said rolls 61 and 62. At the movement'of the supporting bars 42, the next adjacent bai' knocksor pushes off the pile of fabricsfrom the shelf' 612 which p e` distribution thereof in, ing plates 2,81 areshovvn arranged to directf the air well out into .the'steam coils v to in-V sure the' incoming y air 'passing through the' coil ofpipe `to be thoroughly lieatedithereby. v v Suitable emitting means for the moisture-l la'den air arepro'vded, and inthe embodied form thereof are provided also means copcirculation of the airmoving .around and through the Web ofi-abrio.: the "embodied form of such means are provided ,at thetop of thel drying rooma chamberuoi' space 30 separated by a floorv or' partition 3,1 from the main part of the ydrying room; Communicating with and leading out from thejtop of this chamber 30 are ventilating'orfeirhaust pipes 32, which maybe connected, if desired, with an exhaust fan 3 3. Dampers l35 "may be provided in pipes 32ifJ desired.

The partition 31 between thechamber 30 and the main part of the drying'room. is prgvided with apertures 34v which are gradu-f ated in size to equalize the movement ofthe quate and eiiicient circulation in all parts thereof. The apertures nearest the pipes 32 are smallest, the apertures increasing in size the farther their distance from said pipes as shown in Fig. 2. y i

Means -are provided for carrying the fabric through the drying room with a great tion of the heated air While at the same time protecting the fabric from any strain which would tend to disturb or destroy the uniembodied form of such means comprises an. intermittently moving conveyer upon which l y be looped or festooned, 'while the Wet fabric is fed in uniformly and carefully thereto. Said embodied form comias dro s with a jerk or flirt, as already de-i scri ed, to' formthe loop between the two '4 also aids in preventing the forming or per sistence of wrinkles in the fabric.

The feeding rolls 60 and 61 are located just within the drying room, and. just above the front end of the upper or fabric supporting reach of the sprocket chains 40 and 41 y rolls.

ing, these for the purpose of feeding the fabric to the conveyer. As will be noted `from the drawthe direction of the in-feeding web of -fabric so that the web will have a good, fair contact with the peripheral` surface of each roll instead of merely'- passing directly through the biteor contact line of these Suitable supports 62 and 63 are provided at either side of the drying room to' support the-ends of the bars 42v along the fabric conveying reach and the return -reach ofthe sprocket chains to prevent sagging.

In the embodied form of egress means, the dried fabric passes out through the pas sage or slot 64 in the top of the drying room,

'and over the carrier .roll 65, which roll is supported in bearings upon the bracket 66; The web m of dried fabric then passes-over the roll67'which is provided with helical ridges, beginning near the middle of the roll and running out toward vits ends, for opening or working the cloth out widthwise of the web. The roll 67 is supported in bearings 68 upon the frame of the machine, and

is drivenby the belt 69'passing over the pulley 70 fixed to the shaft 71 of the roll 67 From the opening roll 67 the web a? passes between the feeding out rolls 72 and 73. The rolls 72 and 73 are driven by the belt 74 running from a pulley 75 upon the shaft 71 of the rollers 67. The rolls 72 and 73 are journaled in the end o f the oscillating arms 76, which arms are fulcrumed upon the shaft 71. The other end of thearms 76 are connected by a pivoted rod 77- to cranks 78 mounted on the shaft 79, whereby an oscillatory motion is imparted to the rolls 72 and 73 which with the rotation of said rolls actsto deliver the cloth in a folded-pile.

In the form of winding means shown vin Figs. 6 and 7, the fabric is wound around a roll or mandrel 80 slidablyheld in ways or guides 81 and 82. The ro l of fabi-icy rests upon driven rolls 83 and 84, so that notwithstanding the changing diameter \of the roll of fabric it will wind up ripheral speed. On lthe shaft 85 of ro'll84 is a belt pulley 86,V and a chain drive 87 drives the rolls 83 and 84 together. A

spreading or smoothing roll` or series of disks 88 on a shaft 89 are shown acting on thefabric as it passes over the roll 84. This shelf out of rolls are arranged'rel'atively to` tween' and v60 and, 61.

the loops of cloth each drying chambersubje'et to the drying action at the same pe-V device (see Figs. 6' and 7 )comprises a se ries of disks composedbf bristles presenting an inclined-surface on the side ,toward the center of thel web and'. being annular at the other side. Said device -actsto smooth out the web of fabric just prior to its being rolled up. The web may be led over a roller 90'from anysuitable feeding out device such as a pairo'f feeding out rolls.

The manner of operation of thefhe'rein' de- 'scribed mechanism will be' generally;` understood from the foregoing descriptiombut a brief rsum will be herev given.

The web 'of the damp fabricpa'sses ove-.1 the guide bar 1 between the opening rolls 2 and 3 and over thel carrier roll 1 1 andbepartly around fthe feeding rolls Byr'eason of the intermittent movement of the supporting bars 42, al1- the substantially constant feed of the wlebv m of the fabric,'the 4fabric will be looped or festooned between successivebarsl 4 2 for. lsubstantially the free depth of. the.' drying room. The sprock'et'chains 40 and 4l will! then receivean intermittent feed for substantially the distance between festoon rof the same size as that just described. This laction goes passing along the of the transversely traveling currents` of warm dry air which pass .through and around these loops of fabric.

opening roll 67, and between the feeding out rolls 72 and 73. The operation 'of the wind-l two succesfif s1ve bars .42, thus forming another loop orv on continuously,

The dried `fabric emerging from the drying room passes over'thecarrier roll 65 and -`over the' ing device, when same is employed,will be clearly understood from the previousdescription thereof. It will be seen that dur-y lng the drying the utmost freedomfor shrinkage is allowed, and no part of the fabric is submitted to lany mechanical 'pulling or stress, which would in anywise interfere with uniform'action ofthe heat on all parts ofthe web of fabric. The slides 29 willregulate the amount and thusl the temlll() perature of the air admitted through apervtures 28 along the drying chamber to conform exactly to the requirements of the gradually drying fabrio, and the apertures 34 coperating therewith will cause the proper distribution and travel of the `air currents throughthe drying room and into the air is exhausted.

The objects and advantages of the invention,'together with its principles of operation will be understood Vfrom the foregoing,

and it will likewise beI understood vthat va-` riations mayvbe made from the exact strueture sho-wn and described within the scope chamber 30, from whence the moisture-laden of the accompanying claims .without departing from the principles of the invention.

plurality of spaced apartsupports traveling along within said chamber' near the to) thereof from said feeding in opening to saild feeding out opening and back along said chamber near the bottom thereof, means for traveling said-supports, continuously operating feed Vrolls for feeding in said fabric through said feedingin opening to -be looped loosely between said supports, continuously operated feeding out rolls near 75 said fee'ding out opening for feeding out the dry and shrunk web from the loops on said supports, said drying chamber having a series of; openings arranged therealong on' one `side of the loosely looped web of fabric 8O and another series of openings arrangedtherealong on the opposite side of said web, a chamber with which one of said series of openings communicates, and means forv cxhausting the air from said chamber, said 85 opening being successively larger in arca as their distance from said air exhausting means is greater.

4. A fabric shrinking machine including' in combination a relatively long inclosed 90 chamber, said chamber having a long and narrow opening through which the web of damp fabric is fed in and havinga long and narrow opening through which the web of dry and shrunk fabric is. fed out, progress- 95 ing means for` a looped fabric comprising a plurality of spaced apart-supports traveling along within said chambei near the top thereof from said feeding in opening to said feeding out opening and back along said 100 vlchamber near the bottom thereof, means for traveling said supports, continuously operating feed rolls for feeding in said fabric through said feeding in opening to be looped loosely lbetween said supports, continuously 105 operated feeding out rolls near said feeding out opening for feeding out the dry and shrunk web from ,the loops on said supports, said drying chamber having a lseries of openings for admitting 'air arranged along the 110 bottompart thereof, air heating means arranged along and within said chamber near said air admitting openings, a second inclosed chamber arranged Y"along the top of said first-mentioned inclosed' chamber and a 115 plurality of openingsbetween said chambers, means for' exhausting air from said second chamber, said openings between said two chambers being of successively greater area as their distance from said exhausting 12o means-is reater.

5. Afaoric shrinking machine including in combination a relatively long inclosed chamber, said chamber having a long and narrow opening through which the web of 125 da mp fabric is fed in and having a long and narrow opening through which the web of dry and shrunk fabric is fed out, progressing `means for a looped fabric comprising a plurality of spaced apart supports traveling 13G What we do claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is z,

Alil-"A fabric shrinking machine including in vcombination a relatively long. inclosed 5, chamber said chamber. having a long and narrow openingthrough which the web of damp fabric is fed in and having a long and narrow opening through. which theweb of dryand shrunk fabricis fed out, progressv ing means for-a looped.fabriccomprising a plurality of spaced apart supports travellng along within said -chamber near the top thereof from said feeding in opening to vsaid feeding -out opening and back along said chamber near the bottom thereof, means for traveling said supports ,continuously operat- -i-ng feed rolls for feeding in said fabric through said feedingin opening to be looped loosely between said supports vcontinuously 20 operated feeding outrolls near said feeding out Yopening for feeding out the7 dry and shrunk web from thel loops on said supports, said drying chamber having a series of openings arranged thercalong on one side of the loosely looped web of fabric and another se# ries of. openings arranged thercalong'y on the opposite side of said web, and means for maintaining an equable circulation of air between one series of openings and` the other. 2. A fabric shrinking machine including in combination a relatively long inclosedl chamber said chamber having a long and' narrow opening through which the web of damp fabric is-fed in and having a long and y narrow opening through which the web of dry, and shrunk fabric 1s fed out, progressing means fora looped fabric comprising a plurality of spaced apart supports traveling along within said chamber near the top Y 4() thereof from-said feeding in-ope'ning to said feeding out opening and back` along said chamber. nearxthe bottom thereof, means for traveling said; supports continuously operati' ing feed rolls`A for feeding in said fabric v4:5 `through said feeding in opening to be looped vloosely between said supports, continuously operated feeding out rolls near said feeding y out-opening for feeding outthe dry -and shrunk web'ffrom the loo'ps on said supports, y 5o said drying chamber having a series of openv ings arranged therealong onone side of the loosely loopedweb of fabricandanother series of openings arranged thereailbng on the opposite side of said web, and-fachamber with which one. of said series cl2-openings communicates, and `means for eXhaust-ingthe airfrom'said chamber.'

3. A fabric shrinking machine'including iin combination a relatively long Yinclosed '60 chamber said chamber having a long and [narrow opening through which the web of damp fabric is fed in and having a long and narrow opening through which the web of. dry and shrunk fabric is fed out, progressing means lfor a looped `fabric comprising a 1,o43,i'42 5 along within said chamber near'l the top the top thereof from said feeding in opening thereoffrom said'feeding in opening to said to said feeding out opening and back along feeding out opening and back 'along' said said chamber near the bottom thereof, means chamber near the bottom thereof,means for for traveling said supports, continuously optraveling said supports, continuously operaterating feed rolls for feeding in said fabric ing feed rolls for feeding in said fabric through said feeding in openings to be through said feeding in opening to be looped looped loosely between said supports, means v loosely; between said supports, means for re' for receiving the continuously fed in web ceiving the continuously fed in web and inand intermittently dropping substantially a termittently dropping substantially a loop loop. length between two adjacent supports,

length between two adjacent supports, concontlnuously operated feeding out rolls near tinuously operated feeding tout rolls near said feeding out opening for feeding out .the said feeding out opening for feeding out the dry and shrunk web from the loops on said dry and shrunk web from the loop on said supports, said drying chamber having a sesupports, said drying chamber having a series of openings arranged therealong on one ries of openings arranged therealong on one side of the loosely looped web of fabric and sideof the loosely looped web 'offabric and another 'series of openings arranged thereanother series of openingsarranged there- .-along onthe opposite side4 of said web,and n along on the opposite side of said"web,=and means for maintaining an equable circulameans for maintaining an equable circulation of air between one series of openings 85 tion of air between one series of openings and the other, and smoothing means operatand the other. f ing Ato smooth the damp-web adjacent to said 6. A fabric shrinking machine including feeding in rolls and before the web `is looped.' in combination a relatively long inclosed 8. A fabric shrinking machine including chamber, said chamber having la longV and incombination a relatively long inclosed narrow opening through which the web of chamber, said chamber having a long and damp fabric is fed in and having a long and narrow opening through which the web eff narrow opening through lwhich the web of damp fabric is fed in and having a long and dryandshrunkfabric is fed out, progressnarrow opening through which 'the web of ing means for a looped fabric comprisino' a dry and shrunk fabric is fed out, progress- 95 plurality of spaced apart supports travelmg ing means for a loopedl fabric comprising a along within said chamber near the top plurality of spaced apart supports traveling thereof from said feeding in opening to said along within said. chamber near the top feeding out opening and back along said thereof from said feeding in opening to said chamber near the bottom thereof, means forfeeding out opening and back along said traveling said supports, continuously opratchamber near the bottom thereof, means for ing feed rolls for feeding in said fabric traveling said supports,continuously operatthrough said feeding in opening to be looped ing feed rolls for feedingin said fabric loosely between said supports, means for rethrough said feeding in opening to be looped ceiving the continuously fed 1n web and inloosely between said supports,l continuously 105 termittently dropping substantially a loop operated feeding out rolls near said feeding length between two adjacent supports, conout opening for. feeding out the dry and tinuously operated feeding out rolls near shrunk web from the loops on saidsuppor'ts,

said feeding out opening for feeding out/the said "drying chamber having a series of dry and shrunk web from the loop on said openings arranged therealong on one side of supports, said drying chamber having a sethe loosely looped web of fabric and anries of openings arranged therealong on one other series of openings arranged therealong i side of the loosely looped web of fabric and on the opposite side of-said web, and means another series of openings arranged therefor maintainingan equable' circulation of y along on the opposite side of said web, and air between one series of openings and the 115 means for maintaining an equable circulaother, andmeans for rolling the dry and tion of air between one series of openings shrunk web into a roll at uniform speed.

and the other, and'smoot-hing means operat- 9. A machine for shrinking fabric in the ing to smooth the damp web adjacent to. said web including in combination a relatively feeding in rolls and before the web is looped. long inclosed chamber, a series of air orifices fabric shrinking machine' including located along the bottom part of said chamin combination a relatively long inclosed ber, a series of air orifices located along the chamber, said chamber having a long and upper part of said chamber, said chamber narrow opening through which the web of having a long and narrow opening at one damp fabric is fed in and having a long and end thereof through which the web of damp narrow opening through which the web of fabric is fed in, and having a long and nardry and shrunk fabric is fed out, prorow opening at the other end thereof through gressing means for a looped fabric compriswhich the web of dry and shrunk fabric is Amg a plurality of spaced apart supports fed out, and means inclosed within said traveling along within said chamber near chamber for forming said'fed in web near 130 said feeding in opening for thedamp fabric into loose loops not under tension:v within said chamber and transporting it slowly jalong said chamber in such loose'loops not under tension and for vfeeding itjout from said loose loops through said feeding out opening for the shrunk andl dried fabric,

and' means for causing a travel of `air between lsaid two series o f air orifices.

i0 10. A machine Vfor shrinking fabric in the.

web including-in combination a relatively longinclosed chamber,4 said chamber having a long and narrow 'opening through which the web of damp fabric is'fed in and having a long and narrow fp ening through which `the web of dry and shrunk fabric is fed out,y

a plurality of spaced apart supports travell ing slowly along within said chamber near the` top thereof from near said feeding in 2o opening to near said' feeding outopening means for traveling said supports, means for moving said. web of fabric and" said supports relatively to each otherwhereby said fedin web isdeposit'ed in loose loops between said'supports near said point of feeding the web,"'and means for withdrawing the dryf and shrunk fabric through saidfeeding out opening-fromthe loose loops upon said traveling supports ywhen said supports are ,30 near said feeding-outopenin'g;

- 11. A machine for shrinking fabric in the web including in combination a relatively long ainclosedv chamber, said chamber having along and narrow opening' through which the web of damp fabric is ,fed in and having along and narrow opening through which the yweb ofdry and shrunk fabric is fed out, a plurality of spaced apart supi ports travelingl slowly along within said 40' chamber near the top thereof from near said feeding in opening to near said feeding out opening, means for'traveling said supports,

means for moving said web of fabric and said'supports relatively to each other whereby said fed web is" deposited in loose loopsv lbetween `said supports near said point of feeding the web, and means for withdrawing thedry and shrunk fabric through said feeding out opening from the loose loops ogupon said traveling supports when said supa long and narrow opening through which theweb of dry and shrunk fabric is` fed out,

a plurality of spaced apart supports traveling slowly and intermittently along within said chamber near the top thereof from near .said feeding-in opening to near said feeding out opening, means for traveling saidI supports, means for continuously feeding `in the damp web through said feeding in opening,whereby said web is loosely looped be 'Z0 tween said supports, and means for continuously feeding out `the dried and shrunk web through said feeding out opening.

13. A machine for shrinking fabric in the web including in combination a relatively long inclosed chamber, said chamber having a longand narrow opening through which the web of, damp fabric is fed in and having a long and narrow opening through which the web of dry and shrunk fabric is fed out, a plurality of spaced apartsupports travelingslowly along within said chamber near thetop thereof from near said feeding in opening to near said feeding out opening, vmeans for travelin said supports, means Se for feeding in said web. of damp fabric through said feeding in opening, and means for causing substantially a loop length of said `fabric to simultaneously ifall between two adjacent-supports, and means for feeding out the dry and shrunk fabric through said feeding out opening.

14. 'A machine for shrinking fabric in the web including in combination a relatively long inclosed chamber, said chamber havinl a long and narrows opening through whici the web of damp fabri'c is fedin and having a long and narrowopening through which the web of dry and shrunk fabric is fed out, 4a plurality of 'spaced apart supports travel- 100 ing slowly along within, said chamber near the top thereof from near said feeding in opening to near said feeding out opening, means for traveling said supports, means for feeding in said-web of damp'fabric through 10e said feedfng in opening, a support upon which said fed in damp web is accumulated and from which it'falls substantially a fold length 'at -a time between two adjacent supports', and means for feeding out the dry 110 and shrunk fabric through said feeding out opening. y

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

f jportsare near said feeding-out opening, and

'means-for maintaining an equable circula-- 'ft-ion"y of air lthrough said chamber transversely to the direction of travel of the f12. A machine for shrinking fabric in the A@GAR W. VINCENT.

web vincluding in combination arelatively EDGAR CROASDALE. long inclosed' chamber, said chamber having Witnesses;

a long and narrow opening through which A. CADY,

60'y the web of damp fabric is fed in'and having A W. Cnown. i 

